First chemo recovery

Hi Beepeep

sorry you have had a difficult first week. I was fortunate in that I didn’t get aches and pins, but just looking back on my record book, the most worse fatigue I had was days 5, 6 and 7 , if you count infusion day as day 1. I still had fatigue going into second week but not as bad. My worse day overall was day 10 which is when I phoned the hospital. This was due to slight sore mouth, sleigh pins and needles, disrrhea and stomach constantly churning, and generally fed up with it all. The thought anti nausea tablets were causing me some issues, so stopped them and given other ones and this resolved. They also gave me mouthwash, and sore mouth got better. Just remember you can give them a call and good luck.

happy Easter to you as well.

Hi Beepeep

Sounds like I was for the first week and then I felt better the following week.

With chemo there is a massive amount of medication that they give you and it takes your body that week to deal with it. For me I also found there was an emotional aspect- all the build up and worrying and then the actual hospital day. Listen to your body- if it is telling you to rest- do that as it is doing what it needs to heal. 

The chemo not only damages the cancer cells but it damages other healthy cells and they need time to recover and build up again. Hence all the blood tests to check on liver function, red blood cells, white blood cells, kidneys etc. 

Drink plenty for the headaches as that will help. Joint pains tend to be worse the first week. I was given naproxen for them and although I didn't like the way it made me feel- it did help with the pains. Paclitaxel is know to cause joint/back pains. It attacks the lower back area where red blood cells are made and this causes some of the pain- that was what I was told. 

It is good that you feel able to cook a healthy meal a day and that shows you are doing good- although it can be frustrating when you are normally much more active. From week 2 I felt able to go for short walks- would pop to the shops etc and I would sometimes do 2 shorter walks if I wasn't up to a longer one. I can remember feeling rough one day and then all of a sudden felt a lot better and brighter the following day. 

Don't forget your cancer helpline for your hospital and you can give them a call if you just want to talk through how you are feeling- often it can help if they just reassure you that how you are feeling is normal and will pass. 

Fatigue is normal and part of chemo- at the time it is hard to deal with but it will pass. 

Try to think of it that it is your body working with the chemo to blitz those cancer cells- and your body is working overtime and the fatigue is understandable. 

Jane

Thank you Jane - that is really helpful and I think I can call the helpline over the Easter weekend if I feel the need for reassurance. Day six today so it tallies with your experience.

very best wishes 

Thank you so much for replying . 
very best wishes 

Yes, hospital helpline will be there over the Easter weekend. 

I am sure you will start to feel better over the weekend. I found the first cycle the first and after that it felt easier because I knew what to expect. For me it followed same pattern with each cycle, so even if you have a bad few days next time- you will have an idea of when you will feel better. 

Jane

Hi Jane, I was thinking of going to an outdoors cafe this weekend for tea and cake but since risk of infection is at its highest for next 7 days (week 2 ) , should I delay for a week do you think ? Just thinking utensils, food hygiene etc . Hard isn’t it as feel the need to cheer up but perhaps other options to be thought of instead . 

I tended to do it in third week as this would be when I felt best. I did become neutropenic from 2nd chemo. When I was neutropenic I stayed home as much as I could, when I wasn't I would go out but be sensible and avoid unnecessary risks.

I would not be too concerned about utensils etc but did try and limit the number of people I came into contact with. However outside- if there is plenty of space between tables is a good plan. Maybe someone else order and pay. It is important mentally to be able to see friends and do things when you feel up to it. I found that the first week I felt rubbish and didn't want to do much and by the second week I was desperate to get out of the house.

If you go, just keep an eye on your temperature and how you are feeling for the next few days- and if you do feel a bit off or temperature is up (or down) give your hospital a call at once and if they are concerned they will have you in and assess you. 

If you do go, perhaps consider hand gel and mask. 

I am in the south west and it is very wet and grey here today- hopefully where you are is a bit brighter. 

Thank you so much Jane and I feel that I now just want to stay in - and be patient until next week. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and all the best to all who are navigating through this . 

I wore a mask when grocery shopping and in the hospital all 3 weeks.  I had the joint pains after chemo and was very tired the next couple of days but felt fine after that.  I met friends for lunch during the first and third weeks after chemo but stayed home during days 7 to 14.   I did not catch anything until it was all over and then had a mild cold.  Actually the last chemo was the roughest for me.